"All done"

As Dakota gets older, her personality is starting to really come out...which is a great thing, except when I can't figure out what she wants...then she gets super frustrated. I've been trying to teach her some sign language, so she can show me with gestures...since she's still learning how to speak. The only technical sign that I've taught her so far, is "more". The other ones I've taught her is how to lift her arms up when she wants to be picked up...This simple little gesture melts my heart every time she does it. She usually lets go of her toys, and sticks her arms up...letting me know that she wants me to hold her. I find this very symbolic, especially since this is a gesture that we do during a worship service at church. We raise our hands up to God, and in a way...drop everything that's on our mind, in our hearts...and say "God, pick me up" :) I just thought this was a simple reminder that God takes pleasure in me lifting my hands. Asking him to hold me.

Another gesture that I'm trying to teach her, is "All done" where I hold my hands open, with my palms facing up (like nothing is in my hands). I started thinking about this as a gesture of worship as well...saying "God, I'm all done. I'm not holding anything back. It's all yours"

Just thought I'd share that...

Temper Tantrums

Today I witnessed Dakota's very first "Temper Tantrum", and can I start off by saying that I thought it was funny? I know that's horrible to say...but I can't lie..I giggled to myself, while she arched her back and started crying out of frustration. I knew that the situation was not a matter of life or death, but I'm trying to teach Dakota that she can't have everything that she wants, and that I'm the boss.

Seeing Dakota throw a huge fit over not getting what she wanted...made me think of us as adults. How many of us throw "temper tantrums" when life doesn't go the way WE wanted it to go? Life can change in a second, but God is in control. It says in 1st Thessalonians 5:18: "Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus". I wonder how many times God has giggled to himself, as I threw a "tantrum" over not getting my way in life? I heard a saying once "If you want to hear God laugh, tell him your plans". I want to be in the center of God's will, and yes, tantrums are inevitable..I'm human. I just pray that I'll come to a place to accept the changes of life as I know it, and "Be thankful in all circumstances" like it says in the bible.